Idolatry in NT

Idolatry in the Gentile world

Acts 17:16 ESV

Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.

See also Ga 4:8; Ac 17:22–23; Ac 14:11–13; Ac 19:24; 1 Co 8:5

Criticism of idolatry

Idolatry leads to other sinful behaviour

Ro 1:24 Verses 22 and 24-25 show the link between idolatry and immoral conduct.

Idolatry is an offence against the doctrine of creation

Romans 1:20 ESV

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

See also Ac 17:24–29

Idols are futile and degrading

Romans 1:22–23 ESV

Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

See also 1 Co 8:4; 1 Co 10:19; 1 Co 12:2

Idolatrous worship of human beings

Acts 12:22 ESV

And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!”

See also Lk 20:24–25 Jesus Christ opposes the hypocrisy which objected to Roman coinage as idolatrous on the grounds that the emperor’s head infringed the Ten Commandments; Ac 28:6

Demonic powers are involved with idolatry

1 Corinthians 10:20 ESV

No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.

See also Re 9:20; Re 13:4

Food sacrificed to idols

Acts 15:20 ESV

but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.

See also 1 Co 8:4–13; Ro 14:6; Ro 14:2–3; 1 Co 10:14–31

Encounters with idolatrous practice

Acts 19:28 ESV

When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

See also Ac 14:11–18; Ac 17:18–31

Spiritual idolatry

1 Jn 5:21 “idols” here may well refer to a wide range of God-substitutes.

The temptations of Jesus Christ present three main kinds of spiritual idolatry

Possessions

Matthew 4:3 ESV

And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”

See also Col 3:5; Mt 6:24; Php 3:19; 1 Ti 6:10; Lk 18:23

Prestige and self-esteem

Matthew 4:6 ESV

and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ”

See also Lk 18:11–12; Lk 3:8; Lk 10:29; Lk 18:21; Ro 2:19

Power

Matthew 4:8–9 ESV

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.”

See also Jas 4:6; Php 2:6; Jn 19:10; Jas 4:10; Lk 23:39; Lk 9:54–55; Jn 18:10–11